Popup Bikes

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Visit now

Popup Bikes

Arch 5 Corporation St, Manchester, M4 4DG
01618390709
  • Monday7:30am - 7:30pm
  • Tuesday7:30am - 7:30pm
  • Wednesday7:30am - 7:30pm
  • Thursday7:30am - 7:30pm
  • Friday7:30am - 7:30pm
  • Saturday9:00am - 6:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Popup Bikes
Popup Bikes
Book now

Time for something a little different, thanks to Popup Bikes. This independently-run coffee shop and bike repair shop is based at the edge of the Green Quarter in Manchester, under a railway way a stone’s throw from Angel Meadows, and if you’ve ever been I’ll wager you’re fiercely proud of it.

After stumbling across it a few years ago, and being blown away by both the friendliness of the staff and low-cost, high-quality work, I now make a point of insisting all my bicycle-owning acquaintances go there for any bike-related matters. And they, in turn, do the same to their cyclist chums. Almost like some kind of, er, virus. But a good one.

You won’t get ripped off here – far from it

Why? Because much like GRUB, their near neighbours, it’s an example of everything good about Manchester’s independent scene. Popup Bikes is run by a team of people who genuinely love cycling, without being overbearing about it (hi there, Twitter’s Jeremy Vine) and it’s exactly what those pile-em-high corporate bike shop chains aren’t.

They have a loyal customer base because they treat them well and this means they’ve become an unassuming but essential hub of the cycling community. You won’t get ripped off here – far from it. Rather, more than once I’ve had to insist they accept a tip as they refuse to accept payment for fixing a few minor but vital issues with my bike.

An example of everything good about Manchester’s independent scene

But it’s not all about cycling. They have a mean coffee set-up (as well as other hot drinks) and an array of energy-boosting snacks, as well the odd guest appearance from local indie food suppliers. This includes treats such as Lupo’s delicious vegan pizzettes (cute bitesize versions of pizzas, in case you wondering) and doughnuts. It’s well worth popping by, saying hello to the staff, getting your tyres pumped up and sitting around for a natter.

What's on near Popup Bikes

Star Nhà Ease
Until
CinemaManchester
Star Nhà Ease at Cultplex

Following its acclaimed debut in 2024, Star Nhà Ease, the UK’s only curated season celebrating Vietnamese cinema, arrives at Manchester’s Cultplex.

From £7.50
Until
CinemaManchester
YANK at Cultplex

Thirteen movies to get to know the United States of America. Cultplex presents a season of film exploring America through its own lens.

From £7.50
Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
MusicManchester
Blondshell at New Century

With sardonic wit, towering hooks and distortion dialled high, Blondshell lands at New Century this September, armed with album number two.

From £24.00
After Hours at Chetham's Library
TourManchester
Chetham’s Medieval Buildings

Join an access-all-areas guided tour of Chetham’s Library and the surrounding school – among the most venerable buildings in the North West.

From £20.00

Where to go near Popup Bikes

tours and activities guide
Cheetham Hill
Manchester Three Rivers Gin Distillery

Join the Gin renaissance with Manchester Three Rivers, a gin distillery situated in the heart of the Green Quarter making some fantastic gin as well as inviting people to get up close to the distillation process.

Manchester
Restaurant
Fairfield Social Club

Fairfield Social Club is a multi-purpose site next to Angel Meadows Park in the Green Quarter, ran by the team behind the much-loved Grub,.

The exterior of The Pilcrow
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Sadler’s Cat

The Pilcrow is now Sadler’s Cat, a contemporary community pub at the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood. Overlooking Sadler’s Yard.

Cheetham Hill
Restaurant
Osaka Local

Wonderful Japanese street food vendor, often found at Grub and other street food events in and around Manchester and the North.

Manchester
Cinema
Cultplex

Billing itself as Manchester’s home of cult films, video games and cool nerd stuff, Cultplex is a small cinema offshoot of indie street food destination Grub Manchester.

Manchester
Event venue
Partisan

Partisan is a Manchester-based collective and volunteer-run space for independent, community led, DIY and cultural based projects. They have two floors for events, meetings, office space, live music, club nights, and art.

Salford
Gallery
1520 Studios

1520 Studios is bigger than a film and photography studio, also functioning as an event space and community hub.

City Centre
Event venue
Sadler’s Yard

Sadlers Yard is a public square and events space in Manchester from NOMA Mcr. Home of the Pilcrow Pub and PLANT NOMA.

City Centre
Restaurant
Allpress
at NOMA

Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.

Two women stand next to an orange car.
Cinema in the North

August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.

Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Monumental sculptures, charcoal confessions and a show of two paintings only - all this and more in this month's exhibition picks.